2025 F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Test: Norris Tops Charts, Russell Shines, Verstappen Faces Power Cut Challenge

Lando Norris stole the spotlight on the first day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, despite a one-hour delay caused by a power outage at the circuit.

The power cut occurred just two hours into the afternoon session, affecting everything from floodlights to the media center. Thankfully, the session was extended by an hour once power was restored.

When the track reopened, Norris quickly clocked in a time of 1:30.430, which remained the best time of the day. Max Verstappen and George Russell couldn’t overtake him, even with their last-minute efforts.

Before the delay, Alex Albon of Williams had set an early pace with a 1:32.862 during the first hour, while Lewis Hamilton, in a Ferrari, showed strong performance right after. Other notable drivers like Liam Lawson and Fernando Alonso also spent time at the top of the leaderboard.

Liam Lawson had a bit of drama when he spun out at Turn 2, but he quickly regained control and resumed testing.

Mercedes’ newcomer, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, led the morning session before Russell improved on his time after the break. Russell found over 0.3 seconds more speed in the afternoon, setting the stage for a competitive session.

After the break, Lando Norris came back to impress, clocking a lap time faster than both Russell and others still in contention. Norris completed 52 laps, just ahead of Russell’s 70 laps overall.

The times showed a tightly packed field, with Verstappen, Leclerc, and Sainz all finishing within 0.6 seconds of Norris. Esteban Ocon stood out for completing the most laps of the day at 88, though Haas finished lower on the timing sheets.

Day 1 Results – Bahrain Pre-Season Testing

As the testing continues, the excitement builds for the upcoming racing season. Performance updates and driver insights will be closely watched as teams fine-tune their strategies for the year ahead.

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Formula 1,Bahrain Pre-Season Testing